USF’s Mitch Hannahs is the highest paid baseball coach in school history
USF baseball coach Mitch Hannahs is raking in more than his predecessors.
In his first season at the helm of the Bulls (7-7) since being hired away from Indiana State in June, Hannahs inked the most lucrative contract in USF baseball history.
Hannahs will make $300,000 in his first season at USF, according to records obtained by The Oracle. He signed a five-year, $1.6 million contract.
“USF is an amazing institution with a thriving athletic department that is on an incredible trajectory,” Hannahs said in June after he was hired. “I am eager to get on campus to meet with our players and begin building a championship program.”
The salary is more than what he made at Indiana State, the program he led to five NCAA tournament appearances in 11 seasons.
Hannahs’ signed a contract extension in 2023 to pay him $180,000 annually, according to WTHI-TV. His previous contract at ISU paid him $123,215 per year.
Related: USF dismisses head baseball coach after seven years
It also doubles the first-year base salary of the two previous USF coaches.
Former coach Billy Mohl’s first-year salary was $150,000 after signing a five-year, $1.05 million contract in 2017.
Mohl was fired after seven seasons last June.
Mohl would’ve had a base salary of $250,000 this season, with an additional $50,000 in benefits.
Mark Kingston — who coached USF from from 2015-2017 – made $140,000 in his first season.
Despite the payday, Hannahs’ annual salary is half the highest paid coach in the American Athletic Conference.
Related: USF brings on Indiana State’s Mitch Hannahs as head baseball coach
East Carolina’s Cliff Godwin rakes in $600,000 a year after signing an extension in 2022. Godwin is one of the highest paid college baseball coaches in the nation.
UCF – the Bulls’ former conference rival now competing in the Big 12 – paid head coach Rick Wallace $370,000 in his first season in 2023, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Hannahs’ salary will increase by $10,000 annually, topping out at $340,000 in 2029 – the final year of his contract barring extension.
Hannahs also received $15,000 for moving assistance and a $500 monthly automobile stipend.
USF paid $90,000 to Indiana State to buyout his contract with the Sycamores. Hannahs was signed at ISU through 2029.
There are a number of performance bonuses that could increase his salary, including an additional $5,000 for an at-large NCAA tournament bid, $7,500 for a conference tournament championship and $15,000 for a Super Regional appearance.
USF’s 2021 Super Regional appearance was the only one in program history.
Hannahs must repay USF if he voluntarily leaves the position or takes another coaching job. He’ll owe the university $500,000 if this occurs before June 30, 2026, decreasing by $50,000 each year.
The amount of money the university is giving Hannahs to spend on assistant coaches and program support staff is also much larger than Mohls’.
Hannahs was given $350,000 this season, increasing by $10,000 every year until 2029.
Mohl was only given $220,000 when he signed his extension in 2022. He would’ve had $240,000 to allocate this season.
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